Work locating fixture



v. SCHILHA 2,790,495

WORK LOCATING FIXTURE April 30, 1957 Filed Nov. 10, 1954 HT'TORNEY United States Patent WORK LOCATING FIXTURE Vincenc Schilha, Fanwood, N. 1., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. a corporation of New York Application November 10, 1954, Serial No. 468,027

6 Claims. (Cl. 164-59) This invention relates to work locating fixtures particularly those for locating flat stock in punch presses.

In the manufacture of telephone equipment, apparatus units are mounted on panels or plates in many diiferent combinations and arrangements. As a result, the number required of a panel having a particular distribution of mounting apertures may be too small to justify making up special jigs and fixtures for positioning them. In such cases it is necessary to use some device which is adjustable to locate any one of a group of panels but the available devices of this type are either inconvenient to adjust or not well adapted for locating panels of different sizes and thicknesses.

The object of the invention is a work locating fixture of the adjustable type readily adaptable to punch presses for locating material of various thicknesses relative to the punch and die of the press.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a work locating fixture for use in combination with a punch press having a die, the fixture including a rectangular support secured to the press and apertured for the die. The fixture includes upper and lower locating bars disposed at right angles with respect to each other for sliding movement relative to the support, the upper bar having locating elements supported at spaced positions to extend downwardly to the work support to cooperate with the lower bar in locating work relative to the die.

The locating elements of the upper locating bar are pivotally supported in apertures thereof and removably retained in their pivotal positions by pins so that they may be rocked out of position by the lower bar during adjustment thereof relative to the upper bar and the die, yet will move by gravity about their pivots when released by the lower bar to assume their locating positions closely adjacent the rectangular support.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the work locating fixture mounted in a punch press;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the work locating fixture;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view illustrating the portion of the fixture where the upper and lower bars cross providing the locating corner for the work, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the upper locating bar and retaining pin illustrating the pivotal mounting of the locating elements.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the locating fixture is shown in combination with a punch press indicated generally at and having a bed 11 supporting a die holder 12 in which a die 14 (Fig. 2) is mounted in alignment with a punch 15 of a punch holder 16 supported by a ram 17 of the press.

The work locating fixture includes a rectangular support 20 having a series of small apertures 21 therein for machine screws used in mounting the support on the die holder 12. Larger apertures 22 are provided so that any one or more of the apertures 22 may be employed to surround one or more dies 14 in a single or multiple press. A lower locating bar 23 rests upon the upper surface of the support 20 and has its ends welded or otherwise secured to the inner surfaces of angle members 24 which extend around opposing edges 25 of the support. The angle members 24 permit the lower locating bar 23 to slide freely on the upper surface of the work support 20 but will maintain the longitudinal edges of the bar parallel with the edges 26 of the support. Thumb screws 27 disposed in threaded apertures of the lower locating bar 23 may be utilized in locking the bar in any adjusted position by turning the thumb screws until they firmly engage the support 20.

An upper locating bar 30, disposed at right angles to the lower bar 23, has its ends welded or otherwise secured to the top of angle members 31 which are similar in structure to the angle members 24 and extend around the opposing surfaces 26 to permit lateral movement of the upper bar relative to the lower bar and support, but maintain these movements at all times at right angles to the longitudinal edges of the lower locating bars. By mounting the bar 3%) on top of the angle members 31, the upper locating bar is positioned above and closely adjacent the lower bar 23 leaving a space between the upper bar and the support 20 substantially equivalent the thickness of the lower bar. Thumb screws 33 disposed in threaded apertures of the upper locating bar 30 serve to lock the bar in adjusted position when rotated to firmly engage the upper surface of the support 20.

The right hand portion of the upper locating bar 30 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced parallel horizontally extending apertures 35 and closely adjacent smaller vertically extending apertures 36. The apertures 35 are adapted to receive spindle-like portions 37 of locating elements 38. The locating elements 38 are of sufficient length as illustrated in Fig. 3 to extend to positions where their rounded lower surfaces 39 will engage or be positioned closely adjacent the upper surface of the support 20. Furthermore, by mounting of the spindle portions 3'7 off center will adapt the elements 38 to move by gravity about their pivots, that is, about the axes of their spindles 37 to assume locating positions completing the space between the upper locating bar and the upper surface of the support 20. The cross-sectional contours of the elements 38 are such that their widths are substantially equal the thickness of the upper locating bar to permit rocking of any or all of the elements 38 out of the path of the lower bar 23 during adjustment of the lower bar, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The spindle portions 37 have concaved annular grooves 40 therein so that pins 41 when disposed in the apertures 36 will enter their re-- spective grooves 40 and serve to lock the elements 38 in position but free for rocking movement about the axes of their spindle portions. The pins 41 have enlarged and, if desired, knurled upper portions 42 which may be gripped readily by an operator to remove any desired number of the pins to free their associated elements 38 for removal from the upper locating bar 39.

Considering now the function of the work locating fixture, let it be assumed that the upper locating bar 32') is at its extreme left of the work support 2% and that the lower locating bar 23 is adjacent the bottom portion of the work support. A panel of the size shown at 45 is to have an aperture punched at a point indicated at 46. To provide for the location of this and other like panels the locating bars are adjusted relative to each other and the support 20 until they provide locating surfaces for two of the edges of the panel, to align the point 46 with the center line of the die 14. This may be accomplished by locating first the lower locating bar 23, moving it from its suggested bottom starting position to the position.

Patented Apr. 30, .1957 I shown in Fig. 2. During this movement of the lower locating bar, the elements 38 which are in its path will be rocked about their axes or spindle portions 37 to permit the lower bar to move freely into its new position and as the lower bar is moved beyond the various locating elements 38, they will swing l re-sly into their locating positions. In the present illustration, one of the locating elements 38 remains resting on the upper locating bar. If desired, this element may be left in this position or removed together with the other locating e nents wi '.:h are not needed in locating the Work 4.3; r die. The number of locating elements 3??? needed determined when the upper locating bar moved into its position to complete the adjustment of t a fixture and to bring the outer surfaces of the locating ele a plane which determines the position of edges of the successive parts as they apress. When the adjustmcnts have been 4: thumb screws 27 and 33 are turned to lock th tive bars against accidental movement and the ready for processing the panels 45.

When the desired number of panels 4-5 have been prod essed and it is desirable to adjust the fixture for parts or panels of different sizes, these adjustments may bi; made readily without removing the locating elez as they will turn freely their pivots during movement ofv the lower locating bar into any position relative to the upper locating bar, assuring the closure of the space beneath the upper locating bar by one or more of the locating elements 38 cooperating with the sole-etc of the lower bar to produce a locating corner for or work regardless of its size and particularly regardless of its thickness.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application or" the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a punch press having a. die, of a work locating fixture having a rectangular support secured to the press and apertured for the die, a lower locating bar disposed closely adjacent the work support, guides fixed to the ends of the lower locating bar for sliding interengagemcnt with one set of opposing edges of the work support, an upper locating bar disposed above and at right angles with respect to the lower bar, guides fixed to the ends of the upper locating bar for sliding interengagement with the other set of opposing edges of the work support to support the upper locating bar above the lower locating bar, and locating elements supported against movement by the work at spaced positions by the upper locating bar to extend downwardly therefrom substantially to the work support to cooperate with the lower bar to locate work on the support relative to the die.

2. The combination with. a punch press having a die, of a Work locating fixture having a rectangular support secured to the press and apertured for the die, a lower locating bar disposed closely adjacent the work support, guides fixed to the ends of the lower locating bar for sliding intercngagement with one set of opposing edges of the work support, an upper locating bar disposed above and at right angles with respect to the lower bar, guides fixed to the ends of the upper locating bar for sliding interengagement with the other set of opposing edges of the work support to support the upper locating bar above the lower locating bar, locating elements supported against movement by the work at spaced positions by the upper locating bar to extend downwardly therefrom substantially to the work support to cooperate with the lower bar to locate Work on the support relative to the die, and means to pivotally secure the locating elements to the upper bar whereby they may be swung about their c to in;

will be respec nature is lll 4 pivots by the lower bar when adjusted relative to the work support and upper bar.

3. The combination with a punch press having a die, of a work locating fixture having a rectangular support secured to the press and apertured for the die, a lower locating bar disposed closely adjacent the work support, guides fixed to the ends of the lower locating bar for sliding interengagement with one set of opposing edges of the work support, an upper locating bar disposed above and at r' ht angles with respect to the lower bar, supt g g les fixed to the ends of the upper locating bar for sliding interengagement with the other set of opposing edges of the work support, the upper locating bar having a plurality of laterally extending spaced parallel tures in a side surface thereof, and locating elenit having spindle-like portions selectively receivable in any of the apertures of the upper locating bar and held against movement by the work, to cooperate with the lower bar to locate work on the support relative to the die.

4. The combination with a punch press having a die, of a work locating fixture having a rectangular support secured to the press and aperturcd for the die, a lower locating bar disposed closely adjacent the work support, guides fixed to the ends of the lower locating bar for sliding interengagement with one set of opposing edges of the work support, an upper locating bar disposed above and at right angles with respect to the lower bar, supporting guides fixed to the ends of. the upper locating bar for sliding interengagement with the other set of opposing edges of the work support, the upper locating bar having a plurality of spaced parallel apertures in a side surface thereof, locating elements having spindle-like portions selectively receivable in any of the apertures of the upper bar to cooperate with the lower bar to locate work on the support relative to the die, the locating elements when supported by their spindlelike portions held against movement by the work and substantially engaging the work support.

5. The combination with a punch press having a die, of a work locating fixture having a rectangular support secured to the press and apertured for the die, a lower locating bar disposed closely adjacent the work support, guides fixed to the ends of the lower locating bar for sliding interengagement with one set of opposing edges of the work support, an upper locating bar disposed above and at right angles with respect to the lower bar, supporting guides fixed to the ends of the upper locating bar for sliding interengagement with the other set of opposing edges of the Work support, the upper locating bar having a plurality of spaced parallel apertures in 'a side surface thereof, locating elements having spindle-like portions selectively receivable in any of the apertures of the upper bar to cooperate with the lower bar to locate work on the support relative to the die, the locating elements when supported by their spindle-like portions held against movement by the work, substantially engaging the work support, and being adapted to be moved about the axes of their spindle-like portions by the lower locating bar during adjustment thereof.

6. The combination with a punch press having a die,

of a work locating fixture having a rectangular support secured to the press and apertured for the die, a lower locating bar disposed closely adjacent the work support, guides fixed to the ends of the lower locating bar for sliding interengagement with one set of opposing edges of the work support, an upper locating bar disposed above and at right angles with respect to the lower bar, supporting guides fixed to the ends of the upper locating bar for sliding interengagement with the other set of opposing edges of. the Work support, the upper locating bar having a plurality of spaced parallel apertures in a side surface thereof, locating elements having spindle-like portions selectively receivable in any of the apertures of the upper bar to cooperate with the lower bar to locate work on the support relative to the die, the spindle-like portions having annular grooves therein, and retaining pins disposed in apertures in the upper bar to enter the grooves to removably hold the elements "against displacement and movement by the work but for free rotation by the lower bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ward Apr. 22, Wentjar Feb. 6, Brightwell Jan. 19, Iben Sept. 6, Miller Jan. 24, 

